Alex's Suit: The 1943 Zoot Suit Riots
Alex's Suit: The 1943 Zoot Suit Riots
As American soldiers fought for freedom during World War II, a series of violent clashes known as the Zoot Suit Riots took place between military personnel and people of color in the streets of Los Angeles. Alex’s Suit tells the story of Alex and Ricardo Gonzalez, two Mexican-American brothers in L.A. who have opposing views about cultural assimilation. When the brutality of the Zoot Suit Riots hits close to home, the brothers must decide if their perspectives will help or hurt their community in the long run. In reading Alex’s Suit, students will explore the complexities and difficulties that marginalized communities face when they hold onto cultural pride and resistance in the midst of racialized violence. After reading this comic book, you will understand how the Zoot Suit Riots reflected broader struggles over cultural pride, racial injustice, and community identity—and how marginalized communities resisted erasure in the face of systemic violence.
Details
24-page book
1 historian interview
15 workbook questions
For grades 7-12
